Improvement in balancing millstones



W. J. LEMUTH.

Balancing Millstones.

Patented July 29, 1862.- F723? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. LEMUTH, OF GREEN CASTLE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BALANCING MILLSTONES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36.009, dated July 29,1862.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. LEMUTH, of Green Castle, in the county ofPutnam and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Balancing Millstones; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad tothe accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, inwhich- Figure 1 is a side sectional view of a millstone balancedaccording to my invention; Fig. 2, a plan or top view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the twofigures.

This invention consists in placing a number of sliding weights inrecesses in the back of the stone and in line with the top of thespindle on which the stone rests, as hereinafter fully shown anddescribed, whereby the stone (the upper one of a pair, which is commonlytermed the runner) may be perfectly balanced while in motion and underany speed, thereby producing better work than those balanced in theordinary way.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct myinvention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents the upper stone or runner of a pair of millstones, which ishung on a spindle, B, in the usual way. -0 is the bridgetree on whichthe spindle B is stepped, and D the screw for adjusting the bridge-treeand regulating the height of the runner A. These parts, being arrangedin the ordinary way and well known to all millwrights, do not require aminute description.

In the upper part or back of the runner Athere are made four recesses,a, which have a radial position and extend down below the center a inthe under side of the bail E, in which the top of the spindle B isfitted. These recesses a are at equal distances apart, and in each onethere is placed a weight, F, the recesses being somewhat longer than theweights, in order that the latter may be adjusted in the former at agreater or less distance from the center of the runner, as may bedesired.

The weights are adjusted by means of screws G, which pass through themand fit in female screws therein, and also pass through the hoop H ofthe stone, and have square heads I) to receive a key by which the screwsare turned. The screws G are prevented from casually turning by means ofjam-nuts c c, which are placed on them at opposite sides of the hoop H,which covers the outer edges of the recesses a.

The centers of the weights F are in line or about in line with the topof the spindle B, and consequently it will be seen that by adjusting theweights F the runner A may be perfectly balanced when in motion andunder any rate of speed. To effect this result it is essential that theweights be in line with the top of the spindle, for if they are out ofline with and above it the stone may be balanced when at rest, but notwhen in motion, for the centrifugal force generated by its rotation willcause the stone to rise at the side which has the farthest outwardweight. The reverse will be the case if the weights are below the bevelof the top of the spindle; hence it will be seen that the old mode ofbalancing the runner by inserting fixed weights in the top of the backof the stone will not effect'the result in a proper manner, and therunner cannot produce as good work as when properly balanced.

I am aware that adjustable weights have been applied to millstones; butthey havebeen arranged in a comparatively complicated way, and in such amanner as to be adjustable in a vertical direction, requiringconsiderable care in their manipulation in order to balance the stone.

By my arrangement the work may be quickly done and the invention may beap plied at a small cost to any stone in use.

I do not claim, broadly, the application of adjustable weights tomillstones for balancing the same, for they have been previously used;but

I do claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The employmentor use of adjustable weights F, fitted in or applied to the runner A ofa pair of millstones in such a manner as to be capable of being adjustedhorizontally nearer to or farther from the center of the runner and inline with the top of the spindle of the same, as and for the purposeherein set forth.

WILLIAM J? LEMU'IH.

Witnesses:

OoLBuRN N. CARTER, PHILIP Boon.

